Is it really a wonder why our schools are "failing" when we live in a country that doesn't value education? I am a teacher in an urban public school. We have students that match the best in the world, and some that shouldn't be in school at all. There are two major problems in the United States that most of the world does not face. First: compulsory education. Many western education systems do not require all students to track in an academic setting for twelve years in order to earn a diploma. Instead, they allow the non-academic student to study a trade or begin work. Imagine if our students had that option...graduation rates would skyrocket! Wouldn't you be happier learning something if you enjoyed it? Besides, that is how the rest of the world does it...let's compare apples to apples!

Secondly, the US is the largest cultural melting-pot in the world. In South Korea and Japan for instance, there is very little cultural diversity and education has a high value to the family unit. That is not so in the US. The children who drop out in the US generally come from families of low SES background. These kids have to work! In other countries these kids would no longer be in school and wouldn't count towards graduation totals.

Yes, Diversity is a double edged sword. It is our biggest strength and our largest weakness. If we had the parental and cultural involvement of a Japan coupled with the diversity we currently have, the US would be unstoppable.